Live data from Hacker News

Why I’m Worried About Google

slate.com

21–30 of 318 posts

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#21
I think it’s probably possible to model credit-worthiness according to search history and site use patterns. Google’s partnership with Mastercard could be something to do with that. What would be particularly irritating is if Google start showing credit offers next to product ads. Eg you look at an advert for a new iPhone and google then lets you know Mastercard will give you an immediate credit line for an impulse purchase. Marketing strategy is obviously focused on overcoming your will power to buy things you want but don’t need. One of our last lines of defence is: I can’t afford that right now...Mastercard and by axiom Google profit when you don’t think like that.

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#22

I think it’s probably possible to model credit-worthiness according to search history and site use patterns. Google’s partnership with Mastercard could be something to do with that. What would be particularly irritating is if Google start showing credit offers next to product ads. Eg you look at an advert for a new iPhone and google then lets you know Mastercard will give you an immediate credit line for an impulse p…

It'd probably be a massive overfit to race and age. In comparison, everything else would be unbiased noise.

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#23
To me it sounds like we need a Libre Office of Google Docs (web based). Everyone is worried about tracking and privacy, but what about the productivity tools? If you quit Google, you also abandon the GSuite - which is quite nice.

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#24
post #11

This bothers me a little bit > By clicking “Agree,” you consent to Slate’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our site, in emails and across the Internet, to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw c…

It is funny that they load Google Analytics and Doubleclick. There's also trackers for Comscore and Amazon on the page.

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#25
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Marginally better than Chrome That's a gross misrepresentation.

Well... regarding what Mozilla did with Cliqz, I'm sure Google won't be sending my user data to third parties, which Mozilla did. So maybe Chrome is better than Firefox in that regard.

Google does send your user data to third-parties, for "external processing" (it's in their privacy policy).

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#26
post #11

This bothers me a little bit > By clicking “Agree,” you consent to Slate’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our site, in emails and across the Internet, to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw c…

Same here. I just spend 3 minutes trying to figure out how to opt out, but couldn't find it in the walls of texts and links down the rabbit hole. Closed the tab.

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#27
post #12
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which has a few privacy scandals of its own. Marginally better than Chrome, not a silver bullet.

Can you elaborate as to why it is "marginally better than Chrome" please. You could start by explaining how a privacy focused nonprofit is marginally worse than a multi-billion dollar advertising company with regards to privacy.

Because your "privacy focused nonprofit" is itself funded by those very same "multi-billion ad companies".

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#28
Google always knew that trust was very important to their long term growth and viability. It's why "Don't be evil" was their motto for so long and it actually appeared to be more than lip service. That motto is gone, and now they're actively monetizing that accumulated goodwill.

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#29
post #3

What is Google's end goal here? More accurate targetted advertising?

Synchronizing the concept of "logged in" for Google services with the concept of "logged in" in the browser.

Previously, you could be logged in in the browser but not into Google's website, or logged into Google's website but not into the browser. That was confusing for users ("It's asking me to log in to Google? But I'm logged in already. The hell?"). This change synchronized the login experience so if you're logged into Google, you're logged into the Chrome browser and you don't have to think about them separately. Users don't like logging in, so anything that can be done to safely minimize the amount of that necessary is seen as a user experience gain.

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#30

I wonder if, in a couple of generations from now, we’ll be browsing private messages, emails, browsing history, etc—all the “private” details that Google et al, have amassed—much in the same way the Stasi files are available now.

We already did with NSA : https://opendatacity.github.io/stasi-vs-nsa/english.html
Post reply on HN